Focal Speakers: Aria, Kanta, Sopra

This is how I know you are human. It’s your only foible.

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Focal’s output and my input have always clashed too. They sounded like fingernails on the chalkboard to me whenever I have heard them.

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I thought you meant to say “Infinity” and not “Focal” :wink:
BTW I still like the Infinity Modulus speaker system, approaching 32 years with them

I think Focal copied Infinity. They were also unlistenable.

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Infinity had many iterations of their speakers. Some “listenable”, some not. I found those speakers with true electrostatics for mid and highs were among the best, certainly better than those of the EMIT variety. It seems that engineering driven companies like the old Infinity’s and current day Focal and B&W’s, for example, seek, and even make, drivers that measure well but with most recordings you have to leave the room. To what standard do you make a speaker? Flat response or listenability? Or, a combo?

It was the EMIT Tweeter that put me off. Once I was off I never gave them another listen. A mistake.

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It was the EMIT Tweeter that I liked, lol.
Mate them with tubes and they would emit a wonderful sound. (bad pun intended)
Years ago when a 2-person crew from a local retailer brought over Conrad Johnson tube pre and power amps to try out, I knew, from the first few seconds of listening, that I had to have tubes with the Infinity’s, and was not even thinking of ever purchasing tubes at the time.
The polydome midrange is another story, and is something I never liked.

The problem with the EMIT tweeter is the god awful sounding wirewound ceramic resister, the sound destroying tweeter control, the cheap 50 cents capacitors and fuse, and the piece of garbage wire feeding it. I change to Duelund Cast Graphite resistor, Mundorf Oil Silver Gold capacitors, threw out the tweeter control and fuse, and use Cardas Golden 5C internal cables and I can say I have not heard a tweeter with better extension and smoothness than the EMIT tweeter.

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I think your hearing something you dislike with the Focal’s that I don’t, is genetic. Like how asparagus makes some people have smelly urine and others don’t. :thinking::joy:

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It’s the same situation with the polydome rapid acceleration midrange, I change the cheap inductor, capacitor, and cheap wires with flat ribbon oxogen free pure copper inductors, Mundorf Oil Silver Gold capacitors, threw out the midrange control, and use Cardas Golden 5C internal wiring and I was shocked how full, dense, and transparent this midrange is. These drivers are actually very revealing and any change you make in front of it, boy, it shows. Any garbage you put in front of it, you really hear it!

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So is it the people who have smelly urine that dislike Focal’s or the people without the urine issue? I’m confused. :man_shrugging:t2:

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It’s not so much what I am hearing, it’s the very intense physical and mental pain it’s causing. With a really, really good pair of ear plugs the pain stops. Driving two miles away from the speakers does an even better job. I prefer the distance method.

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I have a similar situation with a few people I know. I really like them when I am several states away from them and I am sound asleep. Otherwise…

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But what do I know anyway…

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FWIW I’m a big fan of my Kanta 2s and their beryllium tweeter.

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Beauty…

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I too use sopra 2 …n they were never bright …detailed yep…but i was told also if u can …give them a fair bit volume mire than what u listen to evert so often n go out ir do sumthin ekse while they play kinda loud for a wee while …n then try them …to my ears after a little blast like …taking ur car for a wee blast …n then listen at ur normal volume …u mite be surprised …as in thw drivers seem to be loosened up or sumthin but they sounded better to me more i dunno …flowing n easy to follow n sounded good …just a thought .:loud_sound::loud_sound::notes::notes:

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